Say Anything I used to know the sound of a smile in your voice, but right now, all I feel, is the pain of the fighting starting up again... She rested her forehead in her palm as she watched the rain splashing against her window. She imagined it soaking her through, washing away all of the hurt she felt at that very moment. "Please say something." The voice on the phone whispered. "I can't say anything to you, Ashley." She replied, as the tears began to form in her eyes. "Don't you love me, Mandi?" He questioned, his heart breaking with each passing second. "I don't know anymore." She replied, pressing a finger to her temple, trying to calm her headache. "I just can't pretend everything is okay anymore. I can't do it. You're gone too often and I can't be alone anymore. " "But I love you." He whispered. "Love isn't all that matters. Were not in high school anymore, Ashley. I have to go." She replied, and silence was the response. "Goodbye." She hung up and crawled into bed, the covers shielding her from the reality of what had just happened. *** Ashley hung up the phone and wiped the tears from his eyes. In ten minutes he had to be downstairs, ready to drive to the venue and perform yet another show. He loved his job, he truly did, yet at that moment he felt like giving up everything. He sighed, remembering how much he had wanted this. He had worked so hard for so long and finally his dreams had come true. Everything had seemed so perfect, until in the last week when he had realised that everything came with a cost, and for him it was his other half. Mandi had been everything to him. She was still everything to him. But she was gone. Slowly, he leaned forward and picked up his guitar, words flowing from his mouth with every strum. 'Here I am on The phone again, and Awkward silence is On the other end I used to know the sound Of a smile in your voice But right now (right now) All I feel (All I feel) Is the pain of the fighting Starting up again All the things we talk about You know they stay on my mind On my mind All the things we laugh about They'll bring us through it every time After time after time Don't say a word I know you feel the same Just give me a sign Say anything, say anything Please don't walk away I know you wanna stay Just give me a sign Say anything, say anything Some say that time changes Best friends can become strangers But I don't want that No, not for you If you just stay with me, We can make it through So Here we are again The same old argument And now I'm wonderin' If things'll ever change, yeah When will you laugh again? Laugh like you did back when We'd make noise til 3 AM And the neighbors would complain All the things we talk about You know they stay on my mind On my mind All the things we laugh about They'll bring us through it every time After time after time I'm fallin' I'm fallin' I'm fallin' down I'm fallin' I'm fallin' I'm fallin' down Down Down Down He put his guitar down and the tears came again. The answers were suddenly in front of him, and he knew what he had to do. Three hours later, he was on his way. He breathed deeply, not an ounce of regret flowing through him as the car pulled up to the curb. He took the keys out of the ignition, inhaling the damp air once again before making a dash to the front door. He was soaked by the time he got there, but he didn't care. As soon as she opened the door and he pulled her into his arms, he knew he had made the right decision. "I love you, and I'm here for you." He said, kissing her cheek. She smiled through her tears and pushed him gently outside, stepping away from the shelter of the doorway, letting the rain wash away all of the hurt she had felt earlier when her other half had been taken from her. "You're home?" she whispered, not believing the illusion in front of her. "For good." he replied. "What?" she asked, stepping back from him, her smile fading. The questionning look on his face explained everything. "No, Ashley. I can't let you give it all up for me." She said, shaking her head. "What do you mean? I want to be with you and this is the only way I can be!" He replied, angry. "There's plenty of time for us, Ashley. You need to take some time for you." She said, stepping forward and kissing him gently. "I'll wait for you, but take the time you need." She turned and went into the house, looking back briefly once she reached the door. She mouthed the words, 'I love you.' before closing the door. Ashley stood for a moment, complete shock taking over his body. A few minutes later, he whispered, 'I love you, too.' before heading back to his car to make the trip back to his bandmates and his destiny.